Theatre visit was a true riot

It was a trip to the theatre that ended up with more drama than I ever could have imagined.

Along with thousands of other tourists last weekend I travelled to London to experience the capital's culture.

Estimates of half a million protesters, including a ‘huge turnout' from Sefton Unison, were out in force on Saturday, soaking up the sun at Hyde Park and peacefully parading the streets with posters and placards.

However, as the day wore on certain groups had made their bad intentions clear, swigging cans of premium lager while daubing walls with graffiti.
As we entered the London Coliseum on Saturday (March 26) night, it was clear things had the potential to turn ugly.

And it did - after coming out of the theatre some two hours later, we were caught up in a crowd of up to a hundred who were intent on causing as much chaos and carnage as possible.
With their hoods up and faces covered, it was clear they weren't London's mainstream middle-class students, nor the public sector workers who had travelled down for the day – these were anarchists, hell-bent on wreaking havoc.

One individual wearing waist-length dreadlocks was screaming anti-establishment profanities and calling for peace before seconds later, launching his empty glass beer bottle towards a small crowd of riot police that had gathered in Trafalgar Square.

The irony was not lost on the authorities, who keeping their composure, marched towards the gang of anarchists where a game of cat and mouse ensued.

Just minutes later, we were herded through near to Charing Cross tube station, where the culprits, seemingly enraged by the police presence, started fires in the middle of the street.

A police helicopter could be heard roaring overhead as hundreds more rioters began to throw anything they could pick up at a small band of riot police.

Within minutes, back-up had arrived and up to fifty riot police charged at the anarchists in a desperate bid to contain the carnage.

Some rioters backed off but others were intent on fighting and some police were even forced to flea the scene as more glass bottles indiscriminately rained down on them.

Reports suggest 13 police officers were injured. While there were at least 214 arrests, mostly for criminal damage, and 53 protesters were listed as casualties with at least 15 taken to hospital.

Sefton Unison leaders hailed a “fantastic turnout” and said that despite the “tiny minority hell bent on violence should not detract from the biggest Trade Union demonstration in living memory.”

On the way back to our hotel around 1am, we passed a parked coach which was full of police.

After a long night, some had fallen asleep on the windows and others seemed worn out, slumped in their seats like children returning from a school trip, waiting to return to their families.

For many, this will have been their first experience battling against anarchists but sadly with the Royal Wedding coming up and further cut backs to be announced, this is unlikely to be their last.